Chapter Seventeen
A deline blinked as she woke, staring up at wood beams that ran the length of the ceiling above her. She sat up with a start. Where was she? As the blanket covering her fell to her lap, she looked down to find that she was fully clothed in her traveling outfit. The room she lay in was modest but clean, the walls whitewashed. The counterpane that covered her was a cheerful blue toile print. Across the room, a small table and a pair of ladderback chairs sat in front of a fireplace. The fire had been banked, and Adeline shivered at the chill in the room. She pushed a section of hair out of her face and grimaced as her fingers hit several pins half in, half out of the tangled mess.
Good grief. She vaguely remembered sleepily stepping out of the carriage and then being scooped up by Kingsbury. He had been so warm she had immediately snuggled back against his shoulder. She glanced around the room. Had they shared a room? No, there was no indent in the pillow next to her.
Climbing out of the bed, she spotted her trunk at the foot. After using the necessary, she opened her trunk and contemplated what she should wear. She quickly changed to a comfortable lilac day dress that her plum jacket from yesterday could be layered over for warmth. Next, she tackled her hair. After pulling out all the pins from her bun, Adeline began to comb through the tangles. Blast her curly locks.
A knock at the door made her jump. She took a deep breath before calling out, “Come in.”
Kingsbury’s head popped around the door. “Oh good, you’re awake.” The door opened wide, and he came in holding a large paper bag. “I bought us some fresh rolls for breakfast.”
The yeasty smell wafting from the bag was divine. Her stomach rumbled loudly. “Thank you.” She scrambled to her feet, comb in hand. “Um, I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I don’t recall coming into the inn at all. Thanks for um, putting me to bed.”
He shut the door behind him. “You are a remarkably sound sleeper. While I took off your shoes, I asked you if you wanted to change into nightclothes, but you just rolled over and kept sleeping. So, I pulled the covers over you and left you be.”
Adeline knew her face must be flaming. How mortifying to have him take care of her like a small child. She concentrated on combing out her hair. “Again, I am so sorry. It’s true that I am a heavy sleeper. My mother always said it was a blessing that I could sleep anywhere, no matter the noise.”
When she dared to glance up at him, she found him staring at her with that intent focus that always made her heart flip over in her chest. This time though, he turned away quickly and crossed to the table. “You have a lot of hair.” He unpacked rolls from the bag. “I don’t know that I have ever seen hair that long.”
She began to section her hair to make several braids. “Yes, it grows so fast and it has a mind of its own sometimes. I try my best to tame it.” She quickly created a braid starting at her left temple and working down the left side, then duplicated the effort on the right side.
He turned to face her, his gaze once again roaming over her hair. “I know it’s not practical, but it’s beautiful untamed. Now that I have seen it thus, I will probably be seeing your long, wild curls in my dreams.”
Her fingers froze for a moment. “Kingsbury, your compliments always surprise me.”
“I told you to call me Malcolm.” He crossed to stand in front of her. “Do you need help?”
“Do you know how to braid hair?”
He nodded. “I used to braid my younger sister’s hair for her. She would always cry when the nanny would do it. She said Nanny was too rough.”
Adeline was mesmerized by his proximity. She remembered hazy impressions of being tucked against him from the night before. His warmth and solidity made her feel so safe and more at ease than she had felt in weeks. Now he gazed down at her with a look of longing as though there was nothing else he wanted more than to braid her hair. She nodded. “It is hard to reach the back myself.”
Malcolm moved behind her. She bit back a sigh as he combed his fingers through the back section. Then he slowly plaited her hair.
“What’s next?”
She looked back over her shoulder at him. “Then I wind it all into a bun. It’s the easiest way to secure it without the help of my maid. Can you get the pile of pins for me?” she asked, pointing to the side table by the bed.
She wound the braid at the back into a bun and secured it with the pins Malcolm held out on the palm of his hand. Then she wound each of the smaller side braids around the big one and pinned them into pace. “There, how does that look?” She turned around to show him.
“Entirely tamed. I am amazed.”
When she turned back, she found him so close she had to tip her chin to look up at him. “It’s not fancy, but it is serviceable.”
Malcolm ran the back of his knuckles down the side of her neck, his gaze following their path. His green eyes blazed with want. Was he going to kiss her? She instinctively leaned forward. This time she wasn’t going to lose her head. She would pay attention to the details.
Then he stepped back. “Let’s eat. I’m starving.”
Adeline trailed after him over to the table, oddly disappointed. Had she wanted him to? His attention was addictive. Good Lord. Why was it so hard to remember that he only paid her attention because it was his job to discover the missing artifacts? That he only kissed her because she had asked him? Because, most likely, he felt sorry for her? That he couldn’t be trusted? She peeked at him from under her eyelashes. The thing was, Adeline already felt as though she could. She would need to ponder that further.
They sat and ate the warm rolls. Then he carried her trunk downstairs where Mr. Bosely waited outside the front door to the inn. The carriage was hitched and waited for them in the yard. He wore a rain slicker and held an umbrella to escort her to the carriage.
“Good morning, Lady Amberley. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, thank you.” Adeline glanced up with concern at the gray sky.
“Don’t worry, it’s only a little drizzle.” Malcolm helped her into the carriage and handed her the carpet bag.
She tucked it beneath her feet. Adeline stared out the window as they began the first full day of their journey. The trees were a blanket of fall colors as they rolled past. Leaves in orange, maroon, vibrant yellows, and golden brown all glistened with a light glaze of raindrops.
“You were up early this morning,” she commented as Malcolm settled across from her.
“I am always up early. It is the way of life in the military.”
“Me, too. I mean to say that I am usually an early riser, not that I know the way of life in the navy.” Obviously. Why did she always make a hash of conversation with this man?
“Sunrise is my favorite time of day. Watching the sun come up over the water is almost like a religion for me. The start of a new day full of possibilities. A fresh beginning.” He ran a hand through his hair. “That probably sounds sacrilegious.”
She shook her head. “If it is, it doesn’t bother me. My favorite time of day is solar twilight. The time right before dawn begins to creep over the horizon. The sky is the darkest, and the stars are bright and visible with the naked eye or a telescope.”
Malcolm’s lips curved up. “Is your book of nebulae in that carpet bag?”
“No, it’s far too thick of a volume. And unfortunately, I find it terribly dry. I fell asleep reading it the other afternoon. Right at the library table.”
A chuckle erupted low and smooth. His laugh did something strange to her insides. Good Lord, how did she ever end up in a carriage being escorted to Millstone Manor by this gorgeous man? Bless George for his meddling. Adeline winced. Poor George. She wondered how he was faring? Had her mother come downstairs to check on him, or was she still abed? Would her father be looking for her yet? Adeline clutched at her bag. Had she made the right decision to take the most valuable pieces?
The rain began to pour in earnest outside the window and pounded on the roof, matching the storm of her thoughts. Everything was going to be fine. She reached into her bag and pulled out her novel. She would immerse herself in the tragic tale. She glanced up to find Malcolm looking at her. She wasn’t used to anybody paying her attention on these journeys to the estate.
“Do you mind if I read?” she asked.
“Not at all.”
Adeline turned her attention to the page. But after a few minutes, she peeked up at him. He was still watching her. “Are you going to stare at me the whole trip?”
“No, just for a bit. You are adorable when you concentrate on something. You get a little furrow right here.” He pointed to the space between his brows.
She sighed. He was making fun of her. Her brother did it as well when he was bored.
Malcolm held up his hands, palms out. “Sorry, I’ll close my eyes and nap a bit.” He leaned back against the squabs and scooted down in his seat. His long legs spread wide as he got as comfortable as someone his height could in such a small space. She tried to read, she really did, but it was the perfect opportunity to peruse the man. His large hands lay folded across his flat stomach. His coat flared open, and the navy blue waistcoat stretched taut across his chest. How hard would his chest be under her hands? Equally tight were his gray trousers across muscled thighs. She bit her bottom lip. This was no man of leisure.
One of his eyes popped open. “Now who is staring?”
“Am not! I am reading,” she said. She focused her attention on her book, trying not to furrow her brow as she read.